Bicycle-backbone-bending machine



(No Model.) '2 sheets-sheet 1.

T. B. JEPFERY & L. M. COTTLE. BICYCLE BACKBCNB BENDINC MACHINE.

- m4361523. PatentedApr. 19,1887.

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' (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

'I'. B. JE'FFERY 8; L. M. GOTTLE. BIGYGLL BAQKBONB BENDNG MACHINE. No. 361,523. Patented'Apr. 1,9, 1 88'7.

UNITED STATES 4PrrrI-LNT OFFICE.

THOMAS B. JEFFERY 4AND LUTHER M. OOTTLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BICYCLE-BACKBONE-BENDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361,523. dated April 19, 1887.

Application iiled J' une 21, 1886. Serial No. 205,768.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that we, THoMAs B. JEFFERY and LUTHER M. OorTLE, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycle- Backbone-Bending Machines, which are fullyy j journaled, and to do this without danger of flattening or creasing the tubular metal of which the backbone is made. Secondarily, its purpose is to securely hold the backbone in position while the head or neck piece may be joined thereto, and to provide means for holding the neck with its aXis radial to the curve of the backbone while it is being joined thereto.

The machine may be secured upon a horizontal bed or against a vertical wall. Vehave represented it in the drawings in the former position, and Figure lis, therefore, a sectional plan of the machine with a bicycle-backbone and head fixed therein, certain minor parts being cut away, as by a plane at the linear x on Fig. 2, which is asectional elevation of the devices for holding and setting the head and neck piece, the section being made at the line y' y of Fig. 1, and the View taken in the direction of the arrow-head, pointing toward said line. Fig. 3 is a section through y y in Fig. 1, some parts, however, being shown in elevation. Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of the forkholding end of the backbone-former with the fork in position. Fig. 5 is a'vertical section through the line c c of Fig. l.

A is the table to which the machine is secured. B is a rigid frame secured thereto,

, consisting of the radial arms B B2 and the segment Bi, which is the former about which the backbone M is bent. The three parts constitute a sectoral frame, and may be formed integral, though, for convenience in substituting different backbone-formers without dc- (No model.)

'caching the entire frame from the table, the backbone-former B3 is made in a separate piece and bolted to the radial'arms, as illustrated. This backbone-former comprises two parts, B30, which is an arc'of a circle, and B31, which extends substantially in the d 1 rec tion of a tangent to that arc at one end. Near the end of the part B31 it is provided with a Vertical aperture, bi1, and recesses b310 bm upon the upper and lower surfaces, and between this apertured and recessed end and the comlmencement of the curve B30 said portion B3l is recessed, as at B32. This form adapts the portion B31 to' receive the fork M", the bosses or journal-boxes M upon the ends of the latter entering the recesses Zrno and the recess B32, allowing space for the swell fm at the head of the fork at its junction with the backbone proper, whilev the aperture b3 is adapted to receive a bolt, which may be inserted through the axial bearing in the fork and through said aperture to ix the backbone in place while being formed.

Rigid and preferablyintegral with the arms- B and B2, and radial to the curved portion Bi, I provide the slotted rib or bar B, whose slot b1 in a direction radial to the curve B30 receives the sliding pivot c of the lever C, said pivot being adjustably secured in said slot at the center of 'the curve B3", as hereinafter eX- plained. To said lever, Voutsidethe backboneformer B3, is pivoted the lever O', and the le- .ver C is provided with a series of small pivotholes, c', to permit the lever C to be adjusted to different positions, according to the radius vof the backbone-former B3 asthe latter is changed, as hereinafter explained. The end of the lever O carries a roller orpulley, C2, which has a peripheral groove, ci, semicircular in cross-section,to lit the backbone M. The rim or outer edge of the curved portion B of the backbone-former has a similar' semicircular groove, 193, in which the backbone lies when bent around the curve.

D is an arm, which has rigid with it the pivot-stud c,which projects from the said arm both above and below, the lower end passing into the slot b4 and the upper end receiving the arm C. Said arm D is rigid with and at the same time adjustable with reference to the frame B by means of the link D, which is IOO bolted at one end to the frame B by means of the bolt b', which also secures the arm B00 to the arm B, and at the other end to the arm D by mea-ns of the bolt d. Its rigidity with the frame B may be further increased by provlding the pivot-stud c with a clamp-nut, 010,

on the lower end,whereby the arm D may be clamped to the frame B.

.Approximately radial to the arm B30, and

1o sllding upon the arm D, is the carriage E. To

the outer end of the arm D we pivot the lever D' and connect said lever with the carriage E by the link D2, so that by rocking the lever over its pivot the carriage will be caused to I5 sllde on the arm D. Upon the carriage E is mounted the .secondary carriage E', which slides in the trst carriage, E, transversely to the motion of said carriage E on the arm D,

and effect such sliding movement, and for an- '20 other purpose, hereinafter explained, we provide at the outer end of the carriage E the lug c, in which is pivoted the lever E0, to which is connected the link E3, which in turn is connected at its inner end to the plunger F, 2 5 which slides in the bearings f in the carriage E', and has the stop-pinsf andf10,which engage said bearings f on opposite sides, and cause the lever to move the carriage E in its bearings on the carriage E after a limited mo- 3o tion of the plunger in its said bearings f.

To the carriage E", near its inner end, is secured the frame G, for holding the head and neck piece H. Said frame comprises the L- shaped piece G', to which is secured rigidly 3 5 the T-shaped piece G0, and the connection between these parts, operating as one, and the carriage E is effected by means of the bolt g, which operates as apivot, and the bolt g', which passes through the slot g in the part G0, and 4o is adapted to be set tight to bind said frame to the carriage E'. To the part G2 is secured the upright bracket G3, which overhangs the frame G, and from its outer end is suspended the lever G00. The screw-shaft G, journaled in the upright arm of the bracket G0, and stopped between collars g4, secured to it on both sides of said upright arm, is screwed through the depending lever G30.

The T-shaped part G2 has the tapered socket 5o 900, to receive the lower spindle, h, of the neckpiece H, and through the piece G, in line with the socket y0", is inserted the socketed center pin, G01, having the tapered socket g, to receive the upper spindle, h, of the neck-piece p 5 5 H. Near the outer end ofthe center pin, G01,

it has an annular groove, G20, and the lower end of the lever G00 is forked, to stride the center pin in said groove. The rotation of the screw-shaft G* causes the pendant G00 to move 6o the center pin, G01, toward or from the socket g20, the bearing of said shaft in the bracket G3 being sufficiently loose to permit such movement Without cramping.

The plunger F extends inward beyond its bearings in the carriage E', under the bracket G0, and, being in the horizontal plane of the backbone-former B0 and in line substantially tangent thereto at the termination of the said vbackbone-former, itself terminates in a position to bear against the head-piece H when the latter is placed in the frame G, as hereinafter explained.

The mode of useof this machine is as follows: The backbone being first formed with its fork, but unbent, is secured to the backbone-former by placing its fork astride the piece B01, and securing it thereto by a bolt through the aperture bi1. The tubular portion which is to be bent, being heated, extends in the direction of the dotted straight outlines N N and lies in the groove Z100 of the backboneformer B30. The lever C being swung on its pivot back to the commencement of the curve B00, the lever C is secured by a suitable pivotbolt in one of the holes o in the lever C and turned on said pivot to bring the roller against the outer surface of the backbone, which is thus held in the grooves of the backboneformer and the roller. While thus securely grasped, the pressure being applied to the lever C from the rearthat is to'say, in the direction of the arrow-head in Fig. l-the roller is pressed more firmly against the backbone, and by the same pressure the lever C is swung on its pivot, carrying with it the lever C and the roller Cl around the curve B"0, bending the backbone in conformity thereto. TheV lever may be. swung back and forth several times around the curve until the backbone no longer tends to spring out from the former, but is permanently bent to the shape of the latter. The head-pieceH is placed in its frame G, its spindles being inserted in their sockets, respectively, and therein securely held by the action of the screw-shaft G4, drawing said sockets together. The lever D is next swung over its pivot to cause the carriage E to slide on the bar D until the head-piece H is-brought into proper position radially to make junction with the backbone. The lever E2 is next operated and the plunger F caused to advance against the head-piece H and to force it and its frame G and the carriage E in a direction tangential to the curve of the backbone-former toward the end of the backbone. By means of the two levers D and E2, causing the two carriages E and E to slide in directions transverse to each other, the head-piece may be brought accurately to any desired point in relation to the end of the backbone, and there firmly held until secured by brazing or rivetlng.

Inasmuch as the curve of the backbone depends on the size of the wheel which is to be used, it is necessaryto change the backboneformer B30 and set the lever C in the slotted bearing B4 according to the curve which itis desired to produce. Inasmuch, also, as the axes of the spindles of the head must be radial,

, or substantially so, to the curve of the backbone, the frame G is adapted to be adjusted to bring the sockets 900 and y in such radial line with reference to the curve of each backboneformer. This is done by means of the slot y ITO in the part G2 of the frame G, which permits the inner end of said frame to be swung on the pivotbolt g, and in order to accurately adjust it I provide the adjusting-screw glo, screwed horizontally into the side of the bearing f of the plunger F, and projecting forward against t-he end of. said part G2, and operating as a stop for the same. This screw,being operated by a key or Wrench,forces the inner end of the frame G toward the backbone-former B30 until the proper direction is given to the aXis of the head-piece H, and the bolt g is then set tight, thereby clamping the frame G rigidly in correct position.

Vhen the former B30 is changed, the bolts d and b and the nut cl" are loosened, and the arm D being adjusted to bring the stud c at the center of curvature of the new former which is to be attached to the frame, saidbolts and nut are again tightened, and rigidity of the arm D With the frame and former is secured.

We claimnl. In combination with the backbone-former and means, substantially as described, for securing one end of the backbone thereto, a lever, as C, pivoted at the center of the curved portion of the said former, a secondary lever,

as C', adjustably connected to the lever C, and

the roller G2, journaled on the second lever outside. of the said former, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the rigid frame B, having the detachable backbone-former B3, provided at one end with suitable means,sub stantially as described, for holding one end of the backbone, and a lever, as C, having its pivot radially adjustable with reference to the curved portion of the backbone-former, and a roller adj ustably connected to said lever outside said fornier, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination, substantially as set forth. the rigid frame having the curved former B30 and the arm D, rigid with said frame and approximately radial to the curve of the former,

a carriage, as E, and means, subst-antially as described, for holding and centering the headpiece thereon and for sliding the carriage on the arm D.

4. In combination with the backbone-former, the frame for holding the head-piece and the sliding carriages Which sustain it and the levers which actuate them, respectively, one radially and the other tangentially to the curve of the backboneformer, substantially as set forth. 4

5. .In combination with the frame having` the detachable backbone-former, the frame G and means, substantially as described, for adjusting it radially andtangentially, said frame pivoted at one end on its 'sustaining carrlage and adj ustably secured at the other end, Whereby its direction may be varied to bring the axial line of its sockets radial to the curve of the backbone-former, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination With the backbone-former and the frame G, for holding the head-piece and its sliding supports, the plunger F, located and operated tangentially to the curve of the backbone-former, whereby pressure is applied to the head-piece directly in a tangential line with the end of the backbone to Which it is joined, substantially as set forth.

7. .In combination, substantially as set forth, the carriage E, the carriage E', sliding thereon, the plunger F, sliding through bearings in the carriage E and provided with stops to engage the carriage and limit such motion, and the lever E, pivoted on the carriage E and connected to the plunger F, whereby the plunger acquires a limited range of motion in the carriage E and communicates motion to said carriage at such limits.-

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands, this 17th day of June, A D. 1886, in the presence of two Witnesses, at Chicago, Illinois.

THOS. B. J EFFERY,

LUTHER M. GOTTLE. Vitnesse's:

CHAs. S. BURTON, CHAs. S. NnnnosA 

